so used to the corps of servants in the governor's household they did not even notice the gilded young man sharing the governor's couch. Only Hiachris, Lord of the Temple of Apollo, had commented on the new plaything to which Martius had replied fawningly about Laodacian boredom and had tousled Arius' hair as though he were a lap dog.

Soon the trend of the meeting became obvious. The priests were certain the government turned back to the hereditary prince would become one of deerslayers and lion tamers. How could Laodacia ever hope to develop under such circumstances, the priests asked each other. Would it not be far better to deny the government of Prince Arius and have the progressive Romans govern entirely? But the people, unfortunately, sided with their prince. The only road was to discredit the prince's followers and then take over as a regency. A plot to attack the Roman fortress, then blame it on Prince Arius quickly followed.

From time to time, particularly when his father or his followers were criticized by the priests, Arius would feel like springing up and killing as many of them as he could with his dagger. But each time, the firm smooth hand of Martius would touch him, appearing to the priests to be merely caressing the pretty slave boy, but actually acting as a rod of iron to hold back any foolish action on Arius' part. Finally the meeting ended, with the promise of the entire Holy Council to meet in a cave near the Roman fortress the following afternoon and carry out their plan with the governor's co-operation in setting up the mock battle.

"Now you see what you must do, if you are to maintain your throne," Martius indicated, jumping up quickly as the last priest filed through the door.

"Yes, I understand, Arius answered. He reached for Martius' hand, to clasp it as Romans did to indicate a trust. Quickly the governor pulled his own away and virtually ran from the room, calling behind that the servants would care for him.

"If he wanted to trick me," Arius though to himself as the slaves removed the glitter from his body and returned his own rough clothes, "he would have done it at the council meeting. But why should he want to help me? I guess I will have to trust him." As he exited from the palace, he thought he glimpsed the lithe young form looking down from the walls at him, and he remembered the strength of that controlling hand during the meeting. Only his father and Callius had ever guided him in that way. "I do trust him," he decided.

The following afternoon, his followers secreted themselves inside the cave at his command, although he gave them no reason for their action. There they overheard the treason of the priests, as Arius had heard it at the palace. While many were so angry they lusted for the priests' blood, Arius controlled them, told the Holy Council its duties were ended so they should concentrate on their temples. Shamed by the discovery of their treachery, they readily agreed to do so.

It was dusk as Arius rode into the Roman governor's palace. Martius had spent the afternoon throwing quoits, so now the sports equipment lay scattered on the floor. He was clothed only in an athlete's skirt, the golden oil still shimmering across his body. As Arius entered the room, he saw they were twins in everything but hue, he so dark and the Roman so fair. Arius recalled Callius' final letter, delivered with his belongings that morning, telling of the old teacher's love for his Roman pupil. Indeed, the last few lines were written at the height of his fever, confusing the two students completely as though Arius the Laodacian and Martius the Latin were but a single being. The advices of coming manhood which he offered seemed equally applicable to both of them.

"I have already received reports of your great success," Martius commented,

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